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1. Dramatic homecoming: Trump greets hostages freed from North Korea.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump went to Andrews Air Force Base this morning to welcome home three Americans freed by North Korea yesterday: Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim and Kim Ha-song.

If you turn on the TV right now, they are probably replaying footage on a loop. I can be tough on Trump, but there’s no denying he knows drama and stagecraft, and this was a home run.

For the full story of the homecoming click HERE. Also, the short but moving video from the White House is HERE.

The hostage release was North Korea’s latest overture to demonstrate its willingness to negotiate a nuclear accord with South Korea and the United States. A summit for those negotiations is supposed to take place in Singapore in June, but those plans aren’t officially set.

For interesting perspective on how we got here, read AXIOS’ Jonathan Swan HERE.

For more on how a nuclear deal might proceed, read the New York Times’ David Sanger HERE.

2. New Ads!

Another day, another cache of new campaign ads.

FINALLY, these things are starting to get interesting!

Kay Ivey’s latest takes place at a gun range and is just pretty clever.

Will Ainsworth’s latest has bank robbers in bank robber masks.

Martha Roby’s latest features a veteran cancer patient who says her office saved his life.

Jay Mitchell’s first ad is a fun play on his height and basketball background.

In such a boring election cycle, I promise you voters will reward candidates who break through the monotonous noise. It looks like they are starting to.

3. Doc says Ivey is healthy.

The note came with some fiery comments from Ivey campaign manager Mike Lukach.

In case you haven’t noticed, there is a not-so-subtle effort afoot to question Ivey’s health and longevity. The Governor has said her opponents should just come out and say it if they have a problem with her age.

Challengers Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson and Bill Hightower are unlikely to go too hard in the paint on health and age – like airing a TV ad about it – because that would risk alienating a good portion of the 70-plus Baby Boomer electorate.

I say we have a feats of strength competition and a spelling contest.

4. Roy Moore endorses Hobson.

Roy Moore has officially endorsed Rich Hobson in his run for Congress.

Hobson worked for Moore for many years and recently managed his unsuccessful Senate campaign.

I don’t cover all endorsements because it would be impossible.

But this one is interesting. Not surprising, but interesting.

Hobson and the other challengers to Roby have been kind of overshadowed by the dramatic entrance of former Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright into the Republican primary. This was Hobson’s one arrow in the quiver, and it at least gets him some headlines and TV mentions.

Also, I would love to see up-to-date polling on Roy Moore to know where his favorability stands since last year’s debacle and the sort of exhausting legal battles since.

I would bet he’s still popular with a decent slice of the GOP base. I don’t know if those folks are or ever were Martha Roby voters. I also don’t know how many die hards go out to vote when Roy Moore isn’t on the ballot.